Entries in Jaguar XJ220
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I’ll be honest, one of the main reasons I like books about car design is that they often contain photos and drawings of vehicle that didn’t make the cut, and I am fascinated by the many stylistic directions a vehicle can take before it’s locked in and ready for production. Many times you see hints of the final design, and marvel how it went from nebulous idea to completed form. Other times, you see examples that, to your eye, are better looking than what reached production, and wonder how the company decided to shelve the better looking version.

Just 21 years old when he founded Squire Motors Ltd. (later renamed the Squire Car Manufacturing Company), Adrian Squire dreamed of building a stylish grand prix racer for the road. Two- and four-seat models were built, each powered by a Squire-badged, Anzani-built 1.5-liter twin cam four. These expensive little engines could be ordered naturally aspirated or supercharged, and the cars had a reputation for their top speed and exceptional braking. Unfortunately, they were as expensive as a Bugatti, and production ended in 1936 with fewer than 10 cars built. Soon thereafter, Squire went to work for Lagonda and was working for the Bristol Aeroplane Company when he was killed during a bombing raid on the plant. He was just 30 years old.